[mirimir]

> This is an awkward constraint for a universe designer: isn't a totally deterministic universe much easier and simpler?

Huh? Maybe it's natural selection, all the way down, and all the way up. The results aren't at all "random", but they're also not at all designed.

[joycian]

I think he means it would be expensive to inject randomness all the time instead of just letting a rule-based system go from state to state deterministically.

[mirimir]

OK, except why are you putting it in those terms?

It just is what it is. There's no reason to think that stuff evolves in the least-expensive way.

And there are rules. What we call laws of physics. It's just that there's lots of wiggle room. At least, if you're lucky enough.